The Big Chill
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Winter in Australia is not exactly Arctic. But it does drop well below zero in some of the southern states – and even Queensland gets cold enough to warrant wanting a bit of extra warmth.
So just how do you cope with a cold snap and care for the environment, too?
Well first of all you need to understand that there are a few more planet-friendly ways to avoid the ‘big chill’ than simply cranking up the dial on your heater.
Planet Ark founder and renowned environmental campaigner Jon Dee says his No. 1 tip for staying warm in winter is to rug up and wear more clothes. And yes you’d be right in thinking he’s not suggesting you rush out and buy a fur coat. Nor is he advocating you forego your fashion sense completely and start swanning around in a Snuggie.
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It’s getting hot in here
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The temperature of a heated room in winter should remain between 18 and 21 degrees. If the room is at this temperature and you are still cold put on another jumper. For every degree above 21 degrees that you program a heater, it adds roughly 10 per cent extra to your heating costs.
“If you are sitting in your house in a t-shirt complaining that it is cold, remember that it is so much more effective to simply put a jumper on rather than spending money on your heating,” Dee says.
“And instead of turning on an electric blanket try using a hot water bottle and wearing warm pyjamas and socks to bed,” Dee says.
As chair of Do Something, a not-for-profit organisation that runs environmental awareness campaigns, Dee is at the frontline when it comes to encouraging Australians to be more eco-savvy.
Although Dee is not suggesting people stop using their heaters altogether, he says it’s important to investigate viable alternatives which as well as helping to cut carbon emissions are better for your budget, too.
“Natural gas heating emits a third of the greenhouse gas emissions of fossil-fuelled electric heating and is cheaper to run. Gas heaters cost about $30 to run compared with electric radiant heaters at $75 and electric fan heaters, oil-filled column heaters and convection heaters at $51,” he says.
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A game of draughts
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If you are going to heat a room, Dee suggests only heating the room you are in and closing off the areas that are not in use. If you don’t have solar thermal heating and triple-glazed windows, there are a range of household tips that will help improve the insulation of your home.
“As well as keeping doors shut when you are trying to keep rooms warm, remember to repair window seals and use door snakes to stop draughts from creeping underneath,” he says.
Another one of Dee’s hot tips for an eco-friendly winter is to keep your blinds and curtains open during the day and then make sure they are drawn at night to keep in the warmth.
Dee says while some eco-tips are designed especially for winter, individuals can reduce their day-to-day impact on the environment irrespective of what season it is..
“Every flick of a switch, every touch of a button costs us money,” Dee says.
“Turn off the lights when you are not in the room. Switch off appliances when they’re not in use and don’t leave them on standby as this accounts for up to 10 per cent of your energy use,” says Dee.
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Winter Warmers
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Energy Australia has a Heat Guide that is chock-full of energy-saving tips for winter. It suggests:
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- Buying door snakes and window-sealing tape from your local hardware store;
- Closing your bathroom door if it has an exhaust fan to stop the cold air from seeping into a heated home;
- Programming a timer to turn on the lounge-room heater 20 minutes before you get up each morning and turning it off 20 minutes before you walk out the door. Such a simple idea will save you money and keep you warm. (A timer costs less than $20 and can be bought at any hardware store.)
- Covering your pans when you cook and always cooking a little bit extra so you reduce the amount of energy you are using to produce a meal.
- Always ensuring food is at room temperature before you refrigerate or freeze it.
- Opening the oven door after you have been cooking to help warm your house; and
- Pruning trees so the sun can heat your home.
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Of course, if you are lucky enough to own your own home, then ‘greening’ it up is also a good way to go. Insulating your home is one of the cheapest and easiest way to keep warm in winter and
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NSW Government rebates of up to $300 are on offer to encourage home owners to insulate their homes.
Companies such as Sydney’s Viabuild also offers sustainable solutions to the mainstream alternatives at little, if no extra cost.
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